Hearty Leek and Split Pea Soup: The Cozy Winter Recipe You'll Make Again and Again

You might be surprised to hear this, but until I got married, I had absolutely no idea what to do with that long, strange-looking vegetable called a leek.

This soup was born entirely by accident after we mistakenly bought far too many leeks at the supermarket.

After spending an entire day wondering what to do with them, I woke up on a cold winter morning and knew exactly what their destiny would be: soup. Because honestly, when winter arrives, I am definitely a soup person.

But how many times can you make the same soups — even the delicious ones? Sometimes you have to experiment, and that's exactly what happened with this incredible leek soup, which quickly became one of our family's favorite winter recipes.

The next time you see those mysterious green stalks at the market, don't walk right past them. Put them in your cart — and preferably buy extra.

There are two versions of this soup:

The Traditional Version: Sauté the leeks in a little olive oil until lightly golden before adding the remaining ingredients.

The Quick Version: Skip the sautéing and add everything directly to the pot. It's just as delicious.

Ingredients

• 2 fresh leeks (white parts only), sliced into rounds

• 1 small potato, diced

• ½ cup dried split peas

• 1 cup chopped parsley

• 1 cup chopped cilantro

• 1 cup chopped celery

• Water to cover

Seasonings

Be generous with the spices:

• Plenty of cumin

• 1 tablespoon hawaj spice blend

• 1 tablespoon shawarma seasoning

• 1 tablespoon mustard seeds

• Seeds from ½ cardamom pod

• A pinch of salt

For the Meat Version: Add chicken necks or your favorite chicken pieces, according to the number of servings desired.

For a Vegetarian Version: Simply omit the chicken.

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in a large pot.

2. Cover with water.

3. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat.

4. Simmer for 1 to 1½ hours, or until all ingredients are completely tender and the flavors have melded together.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Serving Suggestion

Serve hot with toasted baguette slices and a side of schug (Yemenite hot sauce) for those who enjoy a little heat.

This hearty, herb-packed soup is rich, comforting, and bursting with flavor — the kind of winter meal that turns a supermarket mistake into a family tradition.